Why healthy workplace habits are essential, and how to encourage them

31 May 2017 - 1:01pm

The way we work and live is quickly changing. We spend more and more time sitting still, staring at computer screens at work or televisions at home, and unsurprisingly our workforce's physical and mental health is declining as a result.

It's no surprise that on average over $10.9 billion worth of productivity is lost by Australian businesses every year as a result of employee health problems, according to Safe Work Australia. How can you encourage healthy habits in the workplace and ensure that you're part of the solution, not the problem?

Encouraging healthy habits in your workplace is a worthwhile undertaking.

Changing workplace culture for the better

A Medibank Private study found that almost half of our country's workforce exhibits poor health behaviours. Half are either completely inactive or do minimal exercise. Over half feel overwhelmed by stress and pressure a significant amount of the time.

Changing these behaviours may not be easy, but it's certainly worth the trouble. The first step is to change the climate of your organisation by visibly prioritising worker health. The most obvious first step towards doing so is to arrange a tailored corporate health insurance plan and offering your employees access to employer supported health insurance.

By making it easier for employees to see a dentist, physiotherapist or chiropractor you help them prioritise their health.

By cutting the cost of seeing a health specialist, you help make it easier for your workers to quickly address their health problems and reduce the impact on productivity.

After you've taken the first step there are a number of other small changes that will help encourage healthy habits in the workplace. Offering flexible working arrangements, sitting and standing desks and workplace exercise initiatives are just a few examples.

A Comcare review found that employers save an impressive $5.81 for every $1 invested in employee health and wellbeing.

Corporate health insurance as the cornerstone of employee health

You may believe that spending money on the above worker health initiatives isn't a prudent investment, but you'd be wrong. In fact, a Comcare review found that employers save an impressive $5.81 for every $1 invested in employee health and wellbeing.

No matter how you look at those numbers, that's an impressive saving - one that's easy to make if you're committed to it.

Get in touch with the team here at HICA to take the first step towards a healthier workforce with a tailored corporate health insurance plan.

Our advisors will talk you through the entire process to ensure that your health plan helps solve your employees problems and saves you money in the long run.